The New Orleans Saints drafted Nebraska DB Stan Jean-Baptiste in the 2nd round

OVERVIEWDefensive coordinator John Papuchis credits Jean-Baptiste’s ability to handle the tight ends and slot receivers in the short area as a crucial factor for the team’s success in keeping plays in front of the secondary last season. Few cornerbacks in the Big Ten Conference showed the inside-the-box tackling skills that the junior college import possesses.

Jean-Baptiste’s success in run support comes from his long arms, as he is able to reach out, grab and hold on to ball carriers until help arrives. He also shows the lower body strength to hold his ground at the point of attack, along with keeping his hands active in order to maintain outside leverage of stave off reach blocks to get through trash and clog the rush lanes.

Jean-Baptiste attended Miami Central High School, where he played wide receiver and strong safety. As a senior, he had 21 catches for 569 yards and seven touchdowns through the first five games of the season. Defensively, as a safety, he registered six interceptions and two touchdowns.

Following high school, Jean-Baptiste spent one year at North Carolina Tech Christian Academy, totaling 36 receptions for 580 yards in 2008. He later attended Fort Scott Community College, but never played for the Kansas school. It was during his time at Fort Scott that he was discovered accidentally by a Nebraska recruiter that came to the school to see another player.

Jean-Baptiste was encouraged to try out at Nebraska, arriving at the university for the 2010 semester. He would red-shirt that season, working out on the scout team as a wide receiver. He remained at that position for the start of his first varsity season, but after seeing limited action on offense – just one catch for seven yards, he was switched to the defensive backfield for the final nine games on the 2011 schedule.

Nebraska’s stunning come-from-behind victory over Ohio State that year was the result of Jean-Baptiste coming out in the second half to make three tackles and pick off a pass that set up the deciding touchdown drive in a 34-27 decision. He earned a start the next week vs. Minnesota, finishing with nine tackles.Playing for a secondary that ranked in the top 10 in the nation in pass efficiency defense and one that allowed only opponents to complete 47.1% of their passes, the lowest in the major college ranks, Jean-Baptiste saw action throughout the defensive backfield. He eventually earned five stating assignment during conference competition, lining up with the first unit for five games at boundary cornerback, finishing the 2012 campaign with 24 tackles, nine pass break-ups and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

As a senior, Jean-Baptiste finally became a full-time starter, as the boundary cornerback received All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors. He recorded a career-high 41 tackles in 13 contests, making four of those stops behind the line of scrimmage, including his only career sack. He led the team with 12 pass break-ups and tied for the lead with four interceptions. His 16 passes defended were topped by just two other players in the conference for the 2013 season.

Attending the 2014 Senior Bowl, Jean-Baptiste put on an impressive show in front of the league’s coaches and scouts. They were impressed that the tall defensive back had the athleticism needed to turn and run with receivers downfield. He was especially effective in press coverage and did not hesitate to get physical at the line of scrimmage and then ride the receiver through the route.

His next opportunity to impress teams came in late February at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine. Stepping up to the bar, the Husker performed a vertical jump of 41 1⁄2-inches, leading all cornerbacks and safeties at the event. In fact, among the 335 players in Indianapolis that jump ranked third in the group, as only linebacker Ryan Shazier of Ohio State and tailback Lache Seastrunk did better, both checking in with a 42-inch jump. His broad jump of 10’-3” was third-best for all defensive backs in attendance.Jean-Baptiste seized one last opportunity to shine, putting on an impressive speed performance. When teams came to Lincoln, Nebraska on March 6th for the Huskers’ Pro Day, the cornerback was timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, coming in with a 1.55-second clocking in the 10-yard run. In the short shuttle, he ran 4.19 seconds, followed by a speedy 6.69 time in the three-cone drill.

CAREER NOTESJean-Baptiste started 19 games at boundary cornerback for Nebraska, appearing in a total of 36 contests during his Huskers career...Recorded 74 tackles (50 solos) with a 3-yard sack and four stops for losses totaling 10 yards...Credited with 21 pass deflections and seven interceptions for 182 yards in returns, including two touchdowns...His 22 pass deflections rank eighth in school history.

2013 SEASONThe second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection started all 13 games at boundary cornerback, ranking seventh on the squad with a career-high 41 tackles (27 solos) that included a 3-yard sack and four stops for losses of 11 yards...Tied for the team lead with four interceptions, as his 134 yards in returns ranked second in the league and eighth in the nation...That yardage figure was the best at the school since 2005 and came from a streak of recording one interception in four consecutive games. The only other player to produce such a string was Josh Bullocks in 2003...His first-quarter interception of a Brett Smith pass that he returned 42 yards led to a Nebraska touchdown and a 10-7 lead vs. Wyoming. It was the fourth interception of his career and ended a streak of 183 consecutive passes by Smith without an interception...Returned a first-quarter interception 43 yards for a touchdown to give Nebraska a 7-0 lead vs. Southern Mississippi...Intercepted a first-quarter UCLA pass to set up a Nebraska touchdown for the opening points of the game...Posted six tackles and intercepted a second-quarter pass to set up a Nebraska touchdown vs. South Dakota State, marking his fourth-straight game with an interception He became the first Nebraska player to intercept a pass in four-straight games since Josh Bullocks had a pick in four-straight games in 2003 (Southern Miss, Troy State, Missouri, Texas A&M)...Made four tackles, including his second stop-for-loss vs. Illinois...Finished the Northwestern game with five tackles, including three solo stops, as he notched one pass break-up to help limit the Wildcats to 81 yards passing...Produced two tackles and broke up a pair of passes for the second time this season, vs. Michigan State...Deflected two passes for the second straight game and the third time this season, bringing his career total to 21, as he also added three tackles vs. Penn State...Tied his career-high with six tackles, including five solo stops, in the Huskers’ 24-19 win over Georgia in the Capital One Bowl, as he made his first career sack and totaled two tackles for loss for seven yards.

2012 SEASONJean-Baptiste played in all 14 games, starting at left cornerback vs. Ohio State, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State and Minnesota...Recorded 24 tackles (18 solos) with two interceptions and nine pass deflections...The play of Jean- Baptiste and his secondary teammates allowed Nebraska to lead the nation in opponent pass completion percentage, while ranking in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency defense and passing yards allowed...Made a season-high four tackles vs. UCLA and Georgia....Added a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. Minnesota...Had five pass break-ups in Nebraska’s win at Northwestern. The pass break-up total tied for the third-most in Nebraska history and was the most by a Husker since the 2005 Alamo Bowl...In addition to his interception for a touchdown, he also picked off a pass vs. Michigan, helping secure a key Legends Division victory...Also served on Nebraska’s coverage units and had four tackles on special teams.

2011 SEASONJean-Baptiste played in nine games, with a start at boundary cornerback vs. Minnesota... Began the year at receiver and had a seven-yard reception vs. Chattanooga...Made the switch to cornerback before the Big Ten Conference season, and played a key role in NU's school-record comeback vs. Ohio State, as he came on in the second half vs. the Buck-eyes and made three tackles, and had an interception that set up NU's go-ahead touchdown...Started the next game at Minnesota and had three tackles...Finished the year with nine tackles, including three on special teams, with two of those at Penn State.

2010 SEASONJean-Baptiste did not see action in any games.

2009 SEASONJean-Baptiste redshirted the 2009 season at Fort Scott Community College.

2008 SEASONFollowing his high school career, Jean-Baptiste spent one year at North Carolina Tech Prep, totaling 36 receptions for 580 yards.

HIGH SCHOOLJean-Baptiste attended Miami (Fla.) Central High School, where he played wide receiver and strong safety...As a senior, he had 21 catches for 569 yards and seven touchdowns through the first five games of the season...Defensively, as a safety, he registered six interceptions and two touchdowns.

PERSONALJean-Baptiste earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in May of 2013 after majoring in criminology and criminal justice...Named to the 2010 Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll...Has volunteered time with Husker Heroes and local hospital visits...Son of Yanick and Pierre Jean-Baptiste...Born 4/12/90...Resides in Miami, Florida.